Public News Service

By: Mark Richardson

According to the new report by Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, there are only 5% nationwide children that are still uninsured. Texas, however, is behind the national average – as there are 9.5% children without insurance.

Anne Dunkelberg, the associate director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, mentioned that Texas is in this position because it has still not expanded Medicaid.

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Texas cut the number of its uninsured kids by 23 percent between 2013 and 2015, according to a new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The report said nationwide, a record 95 percent of all children are now insured. Researchers credit the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act for insuring more adults, who then signed up their kids.

Joan Alker, executive director at the Georgetown center and co-author of the report, said it is important to have a strong Medicaid program, strong CHIP program, and that the Affordable Care Act remains in place.

“Health coverage is so important for kids,” she said. “It allows them to access primary preventive care, they’re more likely to attend school, graduate from high school and even go to college.”

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